[2019 Winter Academy] Artificial Intelligence and International Law

The Asser Institute is offering a new Winter Academy on Artificial Intelligence and International Law. Over the course of one week, this innovative training programme provides insights into current and future issues raised by artificial intelligence from the perspective of international law.

Background
Artificial intelligence (AI) comes with many promises. It has the potential of providing for cognitive abilities going beyond human capacities, which could lead to significant scientific and societal progresses. For instance, complex algorithms that compile and analyse large data sets could contribute to more accurate and precise policy-making. At the same time, the use of technologies that display increasing degrees of autonomy brings in significant ethical, legal, and policy challenges. AI is disruptive to fundamental legal norms and concepts, as well as to systems of international governance. It challenges us to rethink a number of legal notions, and to develop analytical frameworks that fully grasp AI.

Programme
The Winter Academy offers you foundational knowledge on key issues at the interface of international law and artificial intelligence, and provides a platform for critical debate and engagement on emerging questions. The programme is structured along five themes:  Understanding AI, AI for good, AI and armed conflict, AI and responsibility, and AI governance. The Winter Academy includes modules addressing both technical and legal aspects of AI, and will alternate theoretical and more practical perspectives. The interactive training features over 20 sessions by high-level speakers and includes panels, seminars, and a hackathon workshop on AI and land grabbing.

The following topics are covered:

• Definition of AI, current trends, prospective trajectories
• Intelligence and moral judgment in humans and machines
• Explainability and intelligibility of decision-making algorithms
• Ethics of AI and value-sensitive design
• Using AI to advance the UN Sustainable Development Goals
• AI and human rights
• AI and international humanitarian law
• Autonomous weapons systems and human dignity
• Human control over autonomous military technologies
• AI and international criminal law
• AI and state responsibility
• AI and legal personality
• Private standards regulation of AI
• Geopolitics of AI
• European governance of AI
• International governance of AI

Speakers include:

• Irakli Beridze (UNICRI Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics)
• Dr Marta Bo (Asser Institute, Graduate Institute Geneva)
• Lt Col Bart van den Bosch (Netherlands Defence Academy, University of Amsterdam)
• Dr Berenice Boutin (Asser Institute)
• Professor Massimo Durante (University of Turin)
  
• Sherif Elsayed-Ali (Element AI)
• Abhimanyu George Jain (Graduate Institute Geneva)
• Dr Haye Hazenberg (TU Delft)
• Professor Jeroen van den Hoven (TU Delft)
• Dr Machiko Kanetake (Utrecht University)
• Dearbhla Minogue (GLAN Law)
• Vivian Ng (University of Essex)
• Professor Mary Ellen O'Connell (University of Notre Dame)
• Dr Amin Parsa (Lund University)
• Dr Haroon Sheikh (Wetenschappelijke Raad voor het Regeringsbeleid)
• Dr Giovanni Sileno (University of Amsterdam)
• Dr Tim Sweijs (The Hague Centre for Strategic Studies)
• Dr Ozlem Ulgen (Birmingham City University)
• Major Ilse Verdiesen (TU Delft, Royal Netherlands Army)
• Dr Frederik Zuiderveen Borgesius (Vrije Universiteit Brussel, University of Amsterdam) 

The programme is available here.

Objectives
Participants to the Winter Academy will:

• Gain an understanding of the technical dimension of AI (through lectures, workshops, demonstrations);
• Explore the philosophical and ethical underpinnings of AI;
• Acquire an in-depth understanding of the impact of AI on different fields of international law;
• Discuss opportunities and risks of using AI for international legal practice;
• Engage in debates on complex unresolved questions;
• Build on progressively acquired knowledge to identify the way forward;
• Be offered ample opportunities for networking.

Target audience
The Winter Academy is designed for academics and professionals working on issues related to AI and international law, in particular:

• Researchers and advanced students (Master or PhD) in the fields of international law, political science, philosophy, or computer science;
• Policy analysts and legal advisers working on innovation and technology in public or private institutions;
• Industry professionals interested in the law and governance of AI.

Registration & fees
To register for this programme, click on the ‘register’ button at the top of the page and fill out the form. Please read the Registration Information & Conditions carefully before registration. The regular registration fee is €1.295 and the student fee is €750. The student fee applies to PhD candidates and Master students currently enrolled in a University programme (justification required). The fee covers lectures, study materials, side activities, coffee breaks, and lunch during the Winter Academy. The fee does not cover any travel costs, accommodation in The Hague, insurance, or other expenses.

After the training course, you will receive a professional certificate of completion from the T.M.C. Asser Instituut.